Improving the lives of children by strengthening the charities that serve them.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Carousel of Possible Dreams raises $605,100 for neuroblastoma cancer research

11-year old Cathryn Giusto is a neuroblastoma survivor. Her mother, Susan Giusto, founded Friends of Cathryn Fund to support NANT: New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy.

Festival of Children Foundation is pleased to announce that The Carousel of Possible Dreams fundraiser benefiting Friends of Cathryn Fund (FRoC) has raised $605,100 for neuroblastoma cancer research. Friends of Cathryn Fund is a Laguna Beach-based organization that raises money for NANT, a network of 14 universities and children’s hospitals nationwide, that test promising new therapies for high-risk relapsed/refractory neuroblastoma, the third most common pediatric cancer.

Friends of Cathryn Fund is named for 11-year old Cathryn Giusto, a neuroblastoma survivor who had just turned 5 when she was diagnosed with the disease. In 2010, she was cleared, and that’s when her mother Susan Giusto started the foundation. Susan’s goal was to raise $500,000 in support of NANT (New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy). The Carousel of Possible Dreams fundraiser far exceeded her goal, thanks in part to a $250,000 grant generously provided by The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

On Tuesday, September 30th nearly 150 people gathered in South Coast Plaza’s Carousel Court to celebrate. Guests included members of Cathryn Giusto’s Girl Scout troop. The Girl Scouts climbed aboard South Coast Plaza’s carousel and went round and round and up and down in celebration of the successful collaboration between Friends of Cathryn Fund and Festival of Children Foundation.

“We’re honored to be donating over $600,000 for neuroblastoma research. This donation will help fund essential clinical trials to improve outcome. Festival of Children Foundation’s support was invaluable in making this happen for the hundreds of children diagnosed with neuroblastoma each year,” said Susan Giusto, founder of Friends of Cathryn Fund.